Impedance measurement devices, systems, and methods
First Claim
1. A method for use with a weighing scale including a platform, circuitry configured and arranged to process signals obtained from a user while the user is standing on the platform, the weighing scale including a housing integrated with the platform and configured and arranged to enclose the weighing scale and the circuitry, wherein the platform area is configured and arranged for the user to stand with two feet on the platform area, the method comprising:
- while the user is standing on the platform,measuring, using the circuitry of the weighing scale, a weight corresponding to a force applied on the platform by the user,processing electrical signals obtained from at least one foot of the user while the user is standing on the platform,causing electrical signals to flow through a plurality of interleaved electrodes that are integrated as part of the weighing scale and that are in contact with at least one foot of the user and sensing electrical signals in response thereto from the electrodes,selecting a subset of the plurality of electrodes based on the sensed electrical signals, the subset including two selected electrodes for obtaining impedance measurements from the user'"'"'s foot;
using the two selected electrodes and while the two selected electrodes and at least one additional electrode are concurrently contacting the user, obtaining impedance measurements that characterize a physiological aspect of the user'"'"'s body, the additional electrode being in contact with a location of the user that does not include the foot; and
identifying a location of the foot, including locating the heel of the foot; and
activating a first portion of the subset of electrodes that are under the heel of the foot and activating a second portion of the subset of electrodes that are separated from the first portion by a fixed distance to select the subset of electrodes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward obtaining a plurality of impedance-measurement signals while a set of at least three electrodes are concurrently contacting a user. Additionally, various aspects of the present disclosure include determining a plurality of pulse characteristic signals based on the plurality of impedance-measurement signals. One of the pulse characteristic signals is extracted from one of the impedance-measurement signals and is used as a timing reference to extract and process another of the pulse characteristic signals.
162 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method for use with a weighing scale including a platform, circuitry configured and arranged to process signals obtained from a user while the user is standing on the platform, the weighing scale including a housing integrated with the platform and configured and arranged to enclose the weighing scale and the circuitry, wherein the platform area is configured and arranged for the user to stand with two feet on the platform area, the method comprising:
-
while the user is standing on the platform, measuring, using the circuitry of the weighing scale, a weight corresponding to a force applied on the platform by the user, processing electrical signals obtained from at least one foot of the user while the user is standing on the platform, causing electrical signals to flow through a plurality of interleaved electrodes that are integrated as part of the weighing scale and that are in contact with at least one foot of the user and sensing electrical signals in response thereto from the electrodes, selecting a subset of the plurality of electrodes based on the sensed electrical signals, the subset including two selected electrodes for obtaining impedance measurements from the user'"'"'s foot; using the two selected electrodes and while the two selected electrodes and at least one additional electrode are concurrently contacting the user, obtaining impedance measurements that characterize a physiological aspect of the user'"'"'s body, the additional electrode being in contact with a location of the user that does not include the foot; and identifying a location of the foot, including locating the heel of the foot; and activating a first portion of the subset of electrodes that are under the heel of the foot and activating a second portion of the subset of electrodes that are separated from the first portion by a fixed distance to select the subset of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A weighing scale including a platform, circuitry configured and arranged to process signals obtained from a user while the user is standing on the platform, the weighing scale including a housing integrated with the platform and configured and arranged to enclose the weighing scale and the circuitry, wherein the platform area is configured and arranged for the user to stand with two feet on the platform area, the weighing scale comprising:
-
a plurality of interleaved electrodes that are integrated as part of the weighing scale and configured and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s foot; a first circuit configured and arranged to sense electrical signal responses from the electrodes, and to select two electrodes from the plurality of electrodes based on the sensed electrical signal responses, the two selected electrodes for obtaining impedance measurements from the user'"'"'s foot; and a second circuit configured and arranged to obtain impedance measurements that characterize a physiological aspect of the user'"'"'s body, using the two selected electrodes while the two selected electrodes and at least one additional electrode are concurrently contacting the user, the additional electrode being in contact with a location of the user that does not include the foot, wherein the first circuit is configured and arranged to; identify a location of the foot, including a heel of the foot, based on the sensed electrical signal responses; and select the two electrodes from the plurality of electrodes by identifying a first electrode that is under the heel of the foot and identifying a second electrode that is separated from the first electrode by a fixed distance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for use with a weighing scale including a platform, circuitry configured and arranged to process signals obtained from a user while the user is standing on the platform, the weighing scale including a housing integrated with the platform and configured and arranged to enclose the weighing scale and the circuitry, wherein the platform area is configured and arranged for the user to stand with two feet on the platform area, the method comprising:
-
while the user is standing on the platform, measuring, using the circuitry of the weighing scale, a weight corresponding to a force applied on the platform by the user, processing electrical signals obtained from at least one foot of the user while the user is standing on the platform, causing electrical signals to flow through a plurality of interleaved electrodes that are integrated as part of the weighing scale and that are in contact with at least one foot of the user and sensing electrical signals in response thereto from the electrodes, selecting a subset of the plurality of electrodes based on the sensed electrical signals, the subset including two selected electrodes for obtaining impedance measurements from the user'"'"'s foot; using the two selected electrodes and while the two selected electrodes and at least one additional electrode are concurrently contacting the user, obtaining impedance measurements that characterize a physiological aspect of the user'"'"'s body, the additional electrode being in contact with a location of the user that does not include the foot, wherein the selected subset of the plurality of electrodes are in contact with a segment or area of the foot; and
;selecting another subset of the plurality of electrodes in response to a different foot placement, wherein the other subset of the plurality of electrodes are in contact with the segment or area of the foot.
-
-
16. A weighing scale including a platform, circuitry configured and arranged to process signals obtained from a user while the user is standing on the platform, the weighing scale including a housing integrated with the platform and configured and arranged to enclose the weighing scale and the circuitry, wherein the platform area is configured and arranged for the user to stand with two feet on the platform area, the weighing scale comprising:
-
a plurality of interleaved electrodes that are integrated as part of the weighing scale and configured and arranged to contact a user'"'"'s foot; a first circuit configured and arranged to sense electrical signal responses from the electrodes, and to select two electrodes from the plurality of electrodes based on the sensed electrical signal responses, the two selected electrodes for obtaining impedance measurements from the user'"'"'s foot; and a second circuit configured and arranged to obtain impedance measurements that characterize a physiological aspect of the user'"'"'s body, using the two selected electrodes while the two selected electrodes and at least one additional electrode are concurrently contacting the user, the additional electrode being in contact with a location of the user that does not include the foot, wherein the first circuit is further configured and arranged to select the two electrodes based on sensed electrical signals such that a segment or area of the foot in contact with portions of the plurality of electrodes is the same for multiple different foot placements at different times.
-
Specification